Kamal Ravikant has trekked to one of the highest base camps in the Himalayas, earned his US Army Infantry patch, walked 550 miles across Spain, lived in Paris, been the only non-black, non-woman member of the Black Women’s writers’ group, written several best-selling books, won a San Francisco-wide modeling contest, gotten drunk on the same barstool as Hemingway, felt the smooth marble of the Taj Mahal against his bare fee, held the hands of dying patients,  co-founded a company with the person who wrote the first browser, and has worked with some of the smartest investors and engineers in Silicon Valley. His most recent book is an updated version of Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It.

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The Learning Leader Show

  • Commonalities of leaders who have sustained excellence:
    • A belief in the power of commitment to self:
      • WHO am I going to be that day?
      • Don’t just float through life
      • “Excellence means continuing through imperfect days.” –> Moving forward: It’s a mindset
  • How to learn how to keep pushing forward?
    • “Don’t wait until you’re qualified to do it.  Jump in, learn to swim.”
  • Kamal’s process for selling: “You have to believe it.”
  • Writing process — Forced Kamal to deal with rejection… It was part of the process to get better.
    • Studied the greats: Hemingway – Clear, simple, prose.
    • “Writing is more rewarding than anything.  It’s just you and the blank page.”
  • “Love yourself like your life depends on it.”  It’s story about responding to failure.
  • How does this work with someone who already feels great about themselves?
    • “Fundamentally, this is about how to be better.  Learn from the maps of humanity.”  It’s all about what’s inside.
      • “The internal impacts the external.”
  • Kamal had to come to terms with his tough childhood.  He appreciates the strength developed from sleeping in a car (temporarily homeless)
  • What was learned from boot camp (in the Army)?
    • “I can handle anything thrown at me.”  It teaches the value of mission and responsibility.
  • Leading a team in business:
    • “Hire people for what they’re best at.”  And then support them to do that work.
    • “The best leaders are those that have actually done stuff.”  They understand the nuance of the industry and the work.
    • Must be hungry.
  • Why walk across Spain?
    • Having the mentality of, “No matter what, I’ll figure it out… Take chances in life.  Go beyond comfort zones.”
  • How has a life altering event (a surgery that went bad) impacted perspective on life?
    • “I feel blessed and lucky.”
    • “You can become a mess or become awesome.”
  • What Kamal learned from spending time with monks?
    • “The construct of self disappears.”
    • “Love and compassion.”
  • Advice: “Excellence requires persistence.”
  • Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

Resources:

More Learning:

Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon

Episode 216: Jim Collins — How To Go From Good To Great

Episode #300: AJ & Keith Hawk – How To Instill Work Ethic & Curiosity In Your Children

Episode #303:  General Stanley McChrystal – The New Definition Of Leadership